1. Home
  2. / Science and Technology
  3. / Here we go: Scientists now know where to look for life on Mars in promising locations for exploration beneath the icy surface!
reading time 4 min read Comments 0 comments

Here we go: Scientists now know where to look for life on Mars in promising locations for exploration beneath the icy surface!

Published 25/10/2024 às 18:19
life on Mars
Photo: Reproduction

The search for life on Mars is about to move forward as scientists have identified specific locations to explore beneath the icy surface. Find out where this historic search will begin and what it means for science!

Life on Mars has always aroused great interest and curiosity in science and the popular imagination. Recently, a study carried out by scientists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) revealed specific locations beneath the Martian ice sheets where microorganisms could survive, challenging the idea that the Red Planet would be a completely inhospitable desert.

Over billions of years, Mars has undergone drastic changes in its climate, leaving behind traces of rivers, lakes and possibly oceans. The surface, exposed to intense ultraviolet radiation and with a thin atmosphere, became hostile to life forms as we know them.

However, the Martian subsurface may still offer more stable and protected conditions. According to the Caltech research, the “life on Mars” could exist in underground pockets beneath the Ice, where there are mild temperatures and even the presence of liquid water in small quantities.

Scientists believe similar pockets of water could form within dusty water ice on Mars. Credit: Kimberly Casey.

How Martian Ice Could Support Life on Mars

Researchers have mapped areas on Mars that could potentially harbor photosynthetic microorganisms, since beneath the ice they could find the light they need to survive and shelter from radiation.

In places where the ice is 0,01 to 0,1 percent dust, microbes could survive at depths of 5 to 38 inches (3,1 to XNUMX centimeters). In areas with purer ice, the habitable zone increases to as much as XNUMX feet (XNUMX meters) deep.

The role of Martian dust

Dust mixed with the ice plays a crucial role in the possibility of life on Mars. The presence of dust helps absorb more sunlight, warming the ice from the inside out and creating small areas of liquid conditions, similar to a greenhouse.

This phenomenon has already been observed on Earth and was highlighted by Phil Christensen of Arizona State University. He explains that “inside-out melting of ice is a common phenomenon, where sunlight heats the ice as it enters these little pockets.”

Focus on mid-latitudes

The research also found that the best regions to find signs of life on Mars are in the planet's mid-latitudes, approximately between 30 and 50 degrees, where temperatures and exposure to the sun are ideal. In the polar regions, temperatures are too low to allow the ice to melt, making the environment hostile even to extremophile life forms.

The white edges along these gullies on Mars' Terra Sirenum are believed to be dusty water ice. Scientists think meltwater could form beneath the surface of this type of ice, providing a place for possible photosynthesis. This is a color-enhanced image; the blue color wouldn't actually be noticeable to the human eye. Credit: NASA/University of Arizona.

With these new targets in sight, the exploration of Mars in search of life is about to take a new leap. Space agencies such as NASA and the ESA (European Space Agency) are already preparing robotic and possibly manned missions that could drill into the Martian ice and investigate these sites in more detail. The Perseverance rover, currently exploring Mars, could guide future studies and missions to these strategic points.

Among the most anticipated missions is ESA's ExoMars rover, which is planned to drill into the Martian soil in search of biological signals. In addition to this, NASA is also studying the possibility of sending new equipment that could penetrate the ice and bring samples back to Earth.

The future of life on Mars

Although life on Mars is still a hypothesis, the prospect of finding microorganisms underground is fascinating and increasingly plausible. The possibility of alien life, even in microscopic form, would represent a revolutionary discovery for humanity and science, changing our understanding of life's capacity for adaptation.

While the definitive answer has not yet arrived, Mars continues to fascinate and challenge scientists, who, with advances in technology and space exploration, are getting closer and closer to unraveling one of the greatest mysteries of the universe: the existence of life on Mars.

Register
Notify
guest
0 Comments
Most voted
Last Older
Feedbacks
View all comments
Fabio Lucas Carvalho

Journalist specializing in a wide range of topics, such as technology, politics, shipbuilding, geopolitics, renewable energy and economics. I have been working since 2015 with prominent publications in major news portals. My degree in Information Technology Management from Faculdade de Petrolina (Facape) adds a unique technical perspective to my analyses and reports. With over 10 thousand articles published in renowned media outlets, I always seek to bring detailed information and relevant insights to the reader. For story suggestions or any questions, please contact me by email at flclucas@hotmail.com.

Share across apps
0
We would love your opinion on this subject, comment!x